To all the people I love back home in the 916 and afar,

There isn't much to say about how I got to where I am without mentioning all of you back home. Starting from my childhood friends growing up and hanging out around the electrical fuse box in my front yard, to those I got to call my brothers by the time I graduated high school, to all of my friends I've reconnected with, to the new connections I've made with over the summer, and to my two younger brothers and mom and pops that I love so much back home. Nothing makes me happier than to say that you all have been my biggest sources of inspiration.

To my mom back home, you've been the biggest source of inspiration to me when I chose to go to nursing school. Raising both myself and my little brother while attending nursing school, and then going away from us for a whole year to finish your nurse residency, all so that my brother and I can receive the best education that Sacramento can offer. I can only hope that one day I can be as dedicated of a parent as you are. The sleepless nights I had of studying are nothing compared to when you would stay in the library the entire week to study for your nursing exams away from your children. I now can understand just a little how you felt when you would spend all of your time studying away from us.

To my dad, you filled in the shoes that mom left behind to care for my baby brother when she was away, taught my little brother the math he needed to get through the first few years of elementary school when I was busy with all my high school activities. You went out of your way to always make sure that I had everything I needed. All the way past the whopping ages of your 60s! You taught me how to never give up even when there was the tiniest amount of hope and most of all and most importantly, you taught me how to believe in myself when everyone else doubted me, even going as far as to doubt me to test my diligence. You reshaped my work ethic, taught me to never be complacent, and to be as diligent as my mom is and was. I can only hope that one day, I will be able to do the same for my children.

To my two little brothers at home, I love you both so much and to my little brother Reece, Happy Birthday! You're now 12 and have so much ahead of you. You're so intelligent and aware of the world around you that it amazes me. But, don't worry too much about what is going on for there is only so much you can do while you're young. Live life, make friends, and most importantly, never lose sight of the love mom and dad have for you. They may be hard on you sometimes but they do it out of love, because they want nothing more than the very best for. To my four year old baby brother, I doubt you will be able to read this just yet, but when you get to the age that you can please do. The world is so big and vast! Explore the world around you and aim for the skies! It sounds cliche, that I know, but there is so much to do and so little time to do it so make the best of it! I know there have been times when I haven't been the best big brother, but know that I love and miss you guys so much. And I can't wait to get home and see you guys soon.

Last but not least, to all of my friends back home, I don't know where I would be without all of you. We've laughed, gone on adventures, cried, and done so much together. We are at that point in life where we may lose touch with each other. But know this, no matter where I am at, what I am doing, or how I am doing, I will always be there for you when you need me. You guys were always there for me when I needed you and what all of you did for me could never be summed up into words and no action could ever amount to what you've given to me. All of you helped me reach this point that I am at today and I will always be grateful for that. I hope that we never lose touch but in the event that we do, I hope we can get together again one day and reminisce on old memories.